An inquiry-oriented approach to undergraduate mathematics

To improve undergraduate mathematics learning, teachers need to recognize and value characteristics of classroom learning environments that contribute to powerful student learning. The broad goal of this special issue is to share such characteristics and the theoretical and empirical grounding for an innovative approach in differential equations called the Inquiry Oriented Differential Equations (IO-DE) project. We use the IO-DE project as a case example of how undergraduate mathematics can build on theoretical and instructional advances initiated at the K-12 level to create and sustain learning environments for powerful student learning at the undergraduate level. In addition to providing an overview of the five articles in this special issue, we highlight the theoretical background for the IO-DE project and provide a summary of two quantitative studies done to assess the effectiveness of the IO-DE project on student learning. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.